The Sporting News’s Bryan Murphy posted a list of rookies who are “on the cusp” of earning roster spots on their respective NHL teams this fall, and I thought his comments regarding one Simon Edvinsson were…Interesting:
Simon Edvinsson, D, Red Wings: When the Red Wings’ 2021-22 season ended, it was easy to see Edvinsson’s path to a roster spot for the next season. A plethora of left-handed defensemen were leaving in free agency and Edvinsson would not have as much of a battle to get a spot in the lineup. Fast forward to now and after Steve Yzerman signed Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta and Robert Hagg, and brought back Jake Walman, there is a jam on the left side. Edvinsson is good enough to make the team, but it may be more beneficial for his development to play top minutes in the AHL rather than battle for a bottom-pairing role.
Continued; with Walman out due to Achilles tendon surgery and Hagg AHL-eligible, there could be a spot for Edvinsson in the lineup, but the Red Wings aren’t going to put him on the third pairing just to give him some NHL experience.
Unless he can prove that he’s ready to be top-four defenseman at the NHL level, over the course of training camp and the exhibition season, he’ll head to Grand Rapids.
